Age, body mass index and 2-hour plasma glucose are the major determinants of blood pressure in Chinese women newly diagnosed to have glucose intolerance

Hypertension and diabetes frequently coexist and greatly increase cardiovas cular risk. There are relatively few data on the relationship between blood pressure and plasma glucose in nec;ly diagnosed diabetic subjects especial ly in Chinese. We examined the glycaemic status, blood pressure profiles an d other clinical and biochemical characteristics in 1298 Hong Kong Chinese women. These women were referred to the Diabetes and Endocrine Center of th e Prince of Wales Hospital for screening of diabetes. The reasons for refer ral included a positive family history of diabetes or a history of gestatio nal diabetes. Of the 1298 subjects, 836 (64.4%) had normal oral glucose tol erance test, 284 (21.9%) had impaired glucose tolerance and 178 (13.7%) had diabetes. Compared to non-diabetic subjects, the odds ratio (95% confidenc e interval) of having hypertension in subjects with impaired glucose tolera nce or diabetes were 2.83 (1.90, 4.23) (p<0.001) and 5.94 (3.94, 8.96) (P<0 .001), respectively. When analyzed as a continuous variable by age-adjusted partial correlation coefficients, systolic blood pressure was correlated w ith body mass index, fasting and 2-h plasma glucose, while diastolic blood pressure was correlated with body mass index. Using age, body mass index, f asting and 2-h plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglyceri de and smoking as independent variables in multivariate analysis, hypertens ion was independently related to age, body mass index and 2-h plasma glucos e. In conclusion, increased blood pressure was common in Hong Kong Chinese women who were newly diagnosed to have glucose intolerance. Apart from age and body mass index, plasma glucose was an independent determinant for bloo d pressure in these subjects. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.